Ramaphosa's plane makes emergency landing

A South African Air Force aircraft transporting Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa from Kruger National Park to Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria yesterday had to make an emergency landing after technical difficulties.

The Falcon 50 had just taken off when an apparent technical problem with its landing gear forced the pilots to land.

Ramaphosa was in Mpumalanga to attend a ceremony for his instalment as chancellor of the new University of Mpumalanga on Saturday, and to address the ANC-led Provincial Alliance Summit yesterday.

Two weeks ago Ramaphosa had to cancel a visit to the Eastern Cape due to another air force aircraft experiencing technical difficulties.

Ramaphosa's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, confirmed the technical difficulties.

"The pilot managed to land safely and the deputy president was driven back to his Johannesburg home by his police security detail."

A source said shortly before take-off there had been issues with the aircraft's flaps, but that had been resolved.

"It was just after take-off that the problem with the landing gear developed," said the source.

Defence Force spokesman, Siphiwe Dlamini said he was aware of the incident and was liaising with the air force.

Source: The TimesArticle - Graeme Hosken (www.timeslive.co.za) | 04 April, 2016

Photo: Ramaphosa's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, confirmed the technical difficulties. File photo (Photo by Ntswe Mokoena)



(3.4.2016)